Flowmeter



March 20, 1945. M, 1:l MCCARTY K I 2,372,166

` FLOWMETER Filed June 2o, k1942 sans UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOWMETEB,

Madison P. Mcarty, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 20, 1942, Serial No. 447,765

7 Claims. (Cl. 7Bf-208) This invention relates to fluid metering devices and it has particular reference to a device for measuring the quantity o1' uid flowing from one point to another.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means especially adapted for incorporation in the fuel linesof vehicles and airplanes for accurately measuring the quantity of fuel forced by the pump to the carburetor, under any and all conditions, temperature included, and at all speeds of the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid ow meter in whose construction there'is minimum frictional wear between the parts and in which there is provided a self-adjusting valve designed to obviate any likelihood that it will be rendered inoperative to reduce the accuracy ci' the device by the presence of any foreign matter entrained in the iuel.

Another and highly important object of the invention is to provide, in combination with motor actuated, visible indicating means, a device having a resistance element therein having connection with the said motor whereby the speed of the latter will be varied in direct relation to the rate of ow of tuid passing through the metering device, by reason of variations in the degree of resistance. Moreover, and equally important is the provision of auxiliary resistance compensation means rendered effective by variations in temperature and consequently viscosity of the fluid passing through the device, such latter resistance being thermostatically controlled to decrease the speed of thev motor as the viscosity of the fuel is increasedand vice-versa to insure accurate reading of the indicator irrespective oi temperature conditions which is a desideratum especially in the application of the invention to airplanes.

With the foregoing objects as paramount. the invention has particular .reference to certain salient features of construction and arrangement of parts, to become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective, partly broken away view of a device constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view in vertical section, taken at a quarter angle on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on line I-3 on Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse section, taken on line 4-4 on Figure 2, illustrating also an indicator circuit, and

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a form of indicator employed in connection with the iiow Y meter of the invention.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference is primarily made to Figure 1 wherein I0 denotes a shell having its ends closed by plates il but allowing passage of fluid through the shell by means of the inlet pipe i2 and outlet pipe I3 which provide connection in the fuel or fluid line. not shown. Sealing gaskets i4 are interposed between the plates and the ends of the shell to insure against leakage of huid, especially gasoline, therefrom.

Centrally disposed on one plate il and initially receiving the fluid as it enters the shell iii, is a Sylphon tube or metallic bellows i5. Attached to this tube riser I6 of preferably triangular cross-section as shown, having a closed upper end. It is apparent that the arrangement provides for upward movement of the riser it upon expansion 0i the bellows i5, the degree of which is dependent upon the rate of ilow of iuid entering the same.

The riser i6 is provided with iluid outlet ports il which are preferably of triangular shape with the apex at the top to produce a pinching action on the fluid as the same emerges therefrom. To control the egress of uid from these ports is a pair of plates i8 having ears 'a thereon. The plates are angularly related and as a means for mounting them in proper relatoin to their respective faces of the triangular riser, a bracket i9 is provided, having arms 20, bifurcated to receive the ears a which are pivoted, as shown. This pivotal arrangement allows a limited degree of movement of the plates i8 to insure self-adjustment thereof on the riser inasmuch as a certain degree oi' flexibility is required of the latterfor satisfactory performance.

The edges of the outlet ports a sharpe edge, as shown. 'I'his is to insure against any tendency of bits of foreign matter, likely to become entrained with the iluid, to accumulate or lodge at the point of egress and hold the riser away from its seat against the plates I8, which latter, for purposes of immediate identiiication, will be hereinafter referred to as valve Il are beveled to v plates.

'I'he means by which the riser is held in operative relation to the valve plates I8 is in the form of springs 2|. These springs have their lower ends aillxed at b to a plate Il and at a point forwardly of the riser I8, that is to say, -in front oi a vertical line through the axis of the riser, with rods 22 extending anguiarly upward and connected to a cross-member 23 aixe'dsto the top of the riser I8. It is apparent that the springs,

2 I, in being offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the riser, will exert a pull thereon towards the valve plates I8 and in so doing, will maintain close relationship at all times between the riser and plates, except in the event a foreign particle should, for any'reason, become lodged between the plates I8 and the surfaces of the riser I8 which they contact. On such an occasion, the pressure imposed on the fluid by the. fuel pump (not shown) would besuch as to urge the riser away from the valve plates with a momentary movement against the dual resistance ofthe springs 2| and the inherent characteristic of the bellows I5 to remain upright, such movement, combined with the built up pressure of fluid being instrumental to effect dislodgement of the impediment.

To insure against full collapse of the bellows I5, pins 24 are aiilxed to theeifective faces of the riser, to extend outward immediately above the ports I1. During periods when no fluid is passing through the device and the ports closed, these pins rest upon the upper ends of the valve plates I8 to limit contraction of the bellows.

aavaiee binding post 48, and through wire 4I to the voltcse regulator (Figure 4) and to the motor 28 through wire 42. It is to be noted that the shell III is grounded at 43 while a ground 44 is provided for-tte motor 28 through current source 48 (Figure Under optimum conditions, the speed of the motor 28 is in direct relation to the rate of flow of fluid flowing through the shell III and is kept so by the resistor 3 I In other words, as the quantity of uid through the device increases. the resistance in element 3| is decreased to increase the speed of motor 28, which latter propels the pointer 2l to a higher degree on the calibrated scale 28. Thus the operator or pilot, as .the case may be, is at all times apprised of the quantity of fuel his engine is consuming which may include a time or distance factor for precise calcu- It is apparent from the foregoing that as uid l enters the bellows I5 in increasing volume, which may be eected by increased accelerator'or throttle action, the bellows expands in proportion to increase the open area of the ports Il. Thus, fluid in increased volume is allowedy to emerge through these ports to fill the shell I0 and which will eventually pass out through the pipe I3 to the carburetor or to some other predetermined point.

In order to electrically compute the flow of fluids in measured quantities, an indicator such as shown in Figure 5 is provided, having a dial 25, suitably calibrated at 28 and over which a pointer 21 operates. The pointer 2l is operated by a small electric motor 28 whose speed is variable, in the manner to become apparent presently. During operating periods of the engine, the pointer indicates on the calibrations 28 of the dial the consumption of fuel in gallons, that is, the quantity of fuel being forced by the fuel pump to the carburetor of the engine. Moreover, the indicator is so designed as to register by means of counter 29 for subsequent record the quantity of fuel consumed on a trip while the counter 30 registers the total consumption.

Referring now to the electrical means by which the indicator is controlled by the described device, it will be observed in Figure l particularly that a resistance element 3| is mounted on the wall of the shell il). This resistance element is of arcuate form for the reason to become apparent presently. Operating over the resistance element is a contact brush 32, carried by an arm 33 which rocks in a saddle 34 aixed to the top of the riser I8 and which is disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the riser. The opposite end of the arm 33 is pivotally mounted on a pin 35, journaled in a suitable bracket bearing 36 which, by means of a torsion spring 31, holds the arm against other than arcuate movement as the riser ascends and descends due to variations in rate of flow of fluid passing therethrough. As this occurs, the contact brush 32 moves over the resistance element 3l to bring about a change in the resistance to the motor 28. This is effected through wire 88, connecting the resistor 3l to the thermostatic control, to be described presently, and through wire 3S to the lations. n f

In some cases, especially in airplane usage where altitude changes the temperature and consequently the viscosity of the fuel, an automatic resistance compensating means is provided. This means consists of a bimetallic or other suitable type of heat sensitive element 48, which is mounted interiorly of the shell I8 for constant immersion in the'liquid flowing through the device. This element, due to its being highly sensitive to temperature, responds to even the slightest variation in the temperature of the liquid. Accordingly, it bends into an arc and in so doing, an arm 4'I connected thereto and pivoted intermediate its ends-at c is actuated on its pivot, causing the contact brush 48 to move over the resistor 49, through which current passes from the source through the resistor 3|, earlier described. Thus is provided an inverse compensation ratio under varying temperature conditions.

As the temperature of the liquid falls, the friction thereof increases; therefore, the movable yelement in the device, i. e., the bellows and riser,

will be moved a greater distance in cold temperatures than in hot or warm temperatures, the amount of fluid flow being the same. A thick liquid would cause the movable element of the device to be expanded farther than a thin liquid, due to the difference in viscosity thereof, each having the same amount of flow, i. e., each passing the same amount of liquid. Accordingly, if the thick liquid causes the movable element to travel a greater distance than the same flow of a thin liquid, an erroneous indication of the electrical indicator would exist. The thermostatic compensating means of the invention obviates the foregoing deficiency, for, if the movable element is expanded to a greater degree by the increased friction of the liquid, as stated, the speed of the indicator motor would be higher than it should be if the 'instrument was calibrated at a higher or fixed temperature. Thus, the indicator would show a higher volume of flow than was actually being consumed. Therefore, provision is made so that by increasing the resistance through the thermal compensating means, the speed of the motor 28 is decreased to insure an indicator reading at a lower point on they calibrated scale 28 to show an accurate indication of actual ow. Conversely, increased temperatures to reduce fluid friction will oper' ate to lower the resistance in element 49 and will therefore increase the speed of the motor 28 to correspond to variations in iiuid iow as described. V

The invention has been described with great particularity as to form and function of the varessaies ious elements of the combination, but it is understood that various changes and modifications are possible without departing from the, spirit and intent ofthe invention and as fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for measuring the flow of fluid including, in combination with a motor driven indicator, a closed chamber through which the uid is constrained to axially pass, pressure expansive means'within said chamber into and through which said fluid initially passes said expansive means` having means producing a differential pressure varying with the ilow, and said expansive means having movements responding to said differential pressure varying with the rate of fiow'of said fluid passing therethrough, a, motor circuit, a variable resistor in said circuit, means actuated by saldi pressure expansive means and movable over said resistor to vary the resistance in said motor circuit, to accordingly vary the speed ofthe motor of said indicator in direct relation to variations in the rate of flow of the fluid flowing through said chamber to effect a change in said indicator whereby to visibly disclose thereon the volume of iluid ilow and means consequent viscosity of said tluid to accordingly and additionally vary the resistance in said motor circuit.

2. A device of the character set forth in claim 1 in which the pressure expansive means consists of a metallic bellows embracing the inlet port of the chamber and having a riser provided with duid outlets, across which the bellows responds to differential pressures, means against which closed fluid outlet ports and adapted to be reciprocated by expansive and contractive movements of said bellows in direct relation to variations in fluid flow, and to accordingly vary the opening and closing of said ports, an indicator. a motor therefor and-a motor circuit, resistance means aifected by movements of said riser to vary the resistance in said circuit to accordingly vary the speed of said motor whereby to cause the reading of said indicator to correspond to variations in the volume ofiiuid flowing in said line, and means responsive to temperature changes in said duid to compensate for irregularities on said indicator resulting from variations in iluid viscosity.

5. In a device for measuring the volume of fluid flowing through a supply line, s chamber in said responsive to fluctuations in the temperature and said riser is constrained to operatively slide as a closing means for said outlets and means for yieldingly retaining said riser in operative position on said latter means.

3. A device ofthe character set forth in claim 1 in which the pressure expansive means is comprised of a pressure expansible and contractible body communicating with the inlet port of the chamber and an extension therefrom triangular in cross-section having fluid outlet ports across which said body responds to .differential preseures, means conforming to said extension and against which the latter slides to normally close said ports, and means yieldingly maintaining operative relationship between said extension and said port closing means. Y

4. In s device for measuring the flow of fluid in its course through a supply line, a closed chamber in said line through 'which said duid is constrained to pass. an expsnsible bellows initielly receiving the fluid entering said chamber, s riser carried by said bellows having normally line through which the iiuid is constrained to flow, an indicator. a motor therefor and a motor circuit, a bellows in said chamber whose expansive and contractive movements are caused by and in direct relation to variations ln dierential pressure of said fluid, across valve means.

valve means whose opening and closing actions are effected by said bellows, variable resistance means in said circuit, means operated also by movements of said bellows and operatively related to said variable resistance means to change the resistance in said motor circuit in direct relation to changes in said differential fluid pressure to accordingly vary the speed of said motor, whereby to effect an indicator reading corresponding to volume of now and temperature controlled means likewise effecting a change in the speed of said motor to compensate for deviations in indicator readings resulting from variations in duid temperatures.

6. A owmeter of the character set forth in claim 5 in which the temperature controlled means is comprised of s bim'etallic element submerged in and sensitive to changes in temperature of the fluid, combined with and operating a variable resistance means to change the speed of the indicator motor in corresponding relation to changes in duid viscosity.

'1. A fiowmeter of the kind described in claim 5 in which the resistance means and the temperature controlled means are separate elements but contained in the same motor circuit whereby normal fluid temperature will be ineffective to operste said temperature controlled means during normal operation of said flowmeter but will become effective to additionally vary the resistance in the motor circuit as changes in iiuid tempereture occur to accordingly vary the speed of the motor.

MADISON P. McCARTY. 

